For the wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered; the days have already come when both have been forgotten. Like the fool, the wise too must die! So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless. A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
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Compare All Versions: Ecclesiastes 2:16-26
5 Days
Life "under the sun" can feel empty, chaotic, and uncertain. Solomon wrestled with these realities in Ecclesiastes, confronting the futility of earthly pursuits and the fleeting nature of life. Yet, his reflections point us beyond despair to a life of Kingdom-centered purpose. This 5-day devotional explores key lessons from Ecclesiastes, pairing them with the hope found in Christ. Each day invites you to shift your focus from temporary things to eternal truths, embrace God's wisdom, and gain the objectivity to live for His glory.
7 Days
Most men have experienced times of great frustration and disappointment because they feel like they are lacking something in their lives, or that others have more. So, how do we find our way to true contentment and satisfaction, regardless of our circumstances? Join us in this 7-day devotional for men, written by Tim Bergmann of Alliance Community Church in Sylvan Lake, Alberta.
12 Days
God created us to find meaning in our lives. But we live in a broken world where we’re continually frustrated in our search. So, what’s the point of living life? This is the question the Teacher in Ecclesiastes is asking. At first, the message of this wisdom book seems to lead to despair, but in fact points to the hope of life found in God alone.
Written by an elderly King Solomon, Ecclesiastes reflects on a life of meaningless pursuits. Solomon writes that the world's pursuits, from wealth to self-indulgence, are vain and unfulfilling. Ecclesiastes determines that God and his presence make life fulfilling, and true wisdom is to fear God and keep his commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
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